Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 64 of the programme for Government refers to driving down costs to provide new treatments, drugs, etc. and asserts that the Government will examine opportunities to leverage purchasing power. As the Taoiseach may be aware, time is running out for the 21 alpha-1 patients who are receiving Respreeza on a compassionate basis from CSL Behring. The patients, some of whom started the trial ten years ago, were receiving the drug on a month-to-month basis. Last week, they were informed that it would only be available to them on a week-to-week basis with no guarantee for the future.

I appeal to the Taoiseach to ensure that this life-saving drug is made available without delay. He oversaw the provision of Orkambi for cystic fibrosis sufferers. Twenty-one people are on this trial and a further 40 are awaiting it. Ensuring that this is handled would be a great use of his time in the next few weeks.

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